‘We’re all broken’ – Ex-Man Utd star wakes up in pain every day with side effects

One player who was a regular starter for Manchester United for years has now come clean about the injuries he suffered in silence during his career that still haunt him into retirement

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has shed some light on his post-playing career injury woes, admitting he is “broken”. The French shot-stopper caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson with his Euro 2000 performance, and was brought in from Monaco for a hefty £7.8million in an attempt to fill the gloves of the departed Peter Schmeichel.

A stellar start earned Barthez plaudits at Old Trafford. He secured a Premier League title in his debut season and swiftly caught the affection of fans for his eccentric and risky style. However, despite his brilliance, things didn’t go smoothly for too long.

Though he won another top-flight crown in 2003, Barthez was dropped towards the end of that campaign in favour of Roy Carroll after a string of poor performances, and Tim Howard was brought in to take his place in the long term, with Ferguson’s faith in him lost.

After being told United would release him, he left for Marseille on an initial loan deal halfway through the following season and played out the rest of his days on the pitch in France for Les Olympiens and Nantes.

Barthez would retire in 2006 at the age of 36, having won a World Cup and Champions League to go with his Euros title and Red Devils silverware, although such a successful and lengthy career didn’t come without its share of bumps and bruises.

Now, the Frenchman has decided to illuminate the gruelling injury-related ordeals he and many of his fellow pros endured during their playing days, even stating that there were many occasions he wrongly played through injury.

Speaking to L’Equipe, the former Red Devils goalkeeper came clean about his injury troubles, admitting: “When I get up, I feel like an old man.

“When you’ve been diving all day in every direction from age 15 to 36, you shouldn’t be surprised. But hey, I’m not the only one. We are all broken.”

Barthez, now aged 53, went on to single out some of the occasions when injuries got the better of him and he perhaps should not have carried on playing while stricken. In doing so, he is now suffering the side effects each and every day.

“In my time, we weren’t protected,” he added. “There were times I played when I really shouldn’t have. In Monaco, I fractured my cheekbone.

“I was supposed to play again three weeks later, but they put me back on the field immediately with a protective shell. Now I suffer the consequences, but without regrets.

“On one occasion, during a match, I suffered a very strong blow. At half-time, my thigh had doubled its size. The doctor told me to stop, but I said I felt fine.

“As a result, I spent the night in the emergency room; they split my thigh in two, and I was off for two months,” he concluded. “I am the one to blame.”

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